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2025 Genesis Scottish Open Preview & Picks

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The 2025 Genesis Scottish Open heads back to The Renaissance Club in East Lothian, Scotland, attracting a world-class field ready to take on one of the game’s most beautiful and demanding courses.

With a rich history, evolving course setup, and standout contenders like defending champion Robert MacIntyre, this preview breaks down the key storylines, course insights, and top betting picks to watch as the action unfolds.

Pre-Tournament Storylines:

Robert MacIntyre Eyes History

Robert MacIntyre returns to The Renaissance Club as the defending champion of the Genesis Scottish Open. His emotional 2024 victory on home soil marked the second win of his season and made him the first Scot to ever win this event. Now, MacIntyre has a chance to make even more history—no player has ever gone back-to-back at the Genesis Scottish Open. The local favorite will be looking to feed off the home crowd and etch his name further into the tournament’s legacy.

Final Chance to Qualify for The Open

The Genesis Scottish Open serves as the final stop in the Open Qualifying Series. On Sunday, the top three finishers not already exempt will earn a coveted spot in the field for the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Portrush. For many in the field, this is the last opportunity to punch their ticket to golf’s oldest major, raising the stakes even higher this week in East Lothian.

Tournament Information:

  • Dates: July 10th – July 13th, 2025
  • Location: North Berwick, Scotland, United Kingdom
  • Course: The Renaissance Club
  • Course Type: Ocean Links
  • Par: 70 (5x 3’s / 10x 4’s / 3x 5’s)
  • Length: 7,282 Yards
  • Format: 72-hole stroke play
  • Greens: Fescue
  • Fairways: Fescue
  • Rough: Fescue 3″ – 5″
  • Bunkers: 83
  • Water Hazard(s): 0 (In-Play on 0 Holes)
  • Average Green Size: 7,000 sq. ft.
  • Stimpmeter: 10.0 ft.
  • Purse/ Winner: $9,000,000/ $1,575,000
  • FedEx Cup Points: 500
  • Field: 156 Players
  • Cut: Top 65 and Ties – 36 Holes
  • Playoff Format: Sudden-death format, with playoff holes being 18 played repeatedly

Social Media:

Course Information:

Course Architect:

  • Course Architect: Tom Doak (2008)
  • Renovations: N/A

Comparable Courses:

  • St. Andrews (Old Course) – The 2022 Open Championship – RESULTS
  • Royal St. George’s – The 2021 Open Championship – RESULTS
  • Royal Portrush – The 2019 Open Championship – RESULTS
  • Royal Birkdale – The 2017 Open Championship – RESULTS

Comparable Location (North Berwick, Scotland):

  • St. Andrews (Old Course) – St Andrews, Scotland – The 2022 Open

Designer Link (Tom Doak (2008)):

  • Memorial Park Golf Course – Tom Doak Renovation (2019) – Cadence Bank Houston Open
  • St. George’s Golf and Country Club – Tom Doak Renovation (2014) – 2022 Canadian Open

Comparable Yardage (7,282 Yards):

  • TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course) – 7,261 Yards – WM Phoenix Open
  • TPC Deere Run – 7,289 Yards – John Deere Classic

Comparable Greens (Fescue):

  • St. Andrews (Old Course) – Fescue / Brown top bentgrass / Poa annua 3.5mm (.138”) – The 2022 Open

Comparable Average Green Size (7,000 sq. ft.):

  • Memorial Park Golf Course – 7,000 sq. ft. – Texas Children’s Houston Open
  • PGA National (The Champion) – 7,000 sq. ft. – Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches
  • Vidanta Vallarta – 7,000 sq. ft. – Mexico Open at Vidanta
  • Black Desert Resort – 7,000 sq. ft. – Black Desert Championship

TV Information (all times ET):

  • Round 1: Thursday, July 10th, 2025
    • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 2:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    • Golf Channel – 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Round 2: Friday, July 11th, 2025
    • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 2:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    • Golf Channel – 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Round 3: Saturday, July 12th, 2025
    • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 4:15 AM – 10:00 AM
    • Golf Channel – 10:00 AM -12:00 PM
    • CBS – 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • Round 4: Sunday, July 13th, 2025
    • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 4:15 AM – 10:00 AM
    • Golf Channel – 10:00 AM -12:00 PM
    • CBS – 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Weather:

Course/ Tournament History:

The Scottish Open began in 1972 as the Sunbeam Electric Scottish Open, first played at Downfield Golf Club. The following year, the tournament moved to the Old Course at St Andrews. However, after the 1973 edition, the event disappeared from the schedule due to unresolved television rights, and it remained dormant from 1974 through 1985.

In 1986, the tournament was revived as the Bell’s Scottish Open at Haggs Castle Golf Club. Just a year later, it shifted to Gleneagles, where it remained until 1994. The event was then held at Carnoustie for two years in 1995 and 1996, during which it officially adopted the name “Scottish Open.”

From 1997 through 2010, the event found a long-term home at Loch Lomond, though it cycled through multiple title sponsors. In 2011, due to financial issues at Loch Lomond, the tournament moved to Castle Stuart Golf Links, which hosted it through 2013.

Between 2014 and 2018, the Scottish Open rotated across a few different courses before settling at its current venue, The Renaissance Club, in 2019. A major milestone came in 2022, when the tournament became a co-sanctioned event between the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour. Genesis also came on board as the title sponsor.

The Renaissance Club, located in East Lothian, Scotland, is one of the newer additions to the world’s top golf venues. Opened in 2008 and designed by Tom Doak, the course quickly gained recognition for its coastal beauty and unique blend of traditional Scottish links features with modern architecture. Nestled between historic neighbors like Muirfield and North Berwick, The Renaissance Club has become a premier stop in the summer schedule, known for its challenging layout, impeccable conditioning, and striking views of the Firth of Forth.

Previous Tournament Venues:

DurationCourseLocation:
2022-PresentThe Renaissance ClubNorth Berwick, Scotland

Previous Tournament Names:

DurationTournament Name
2022-PresentGenesis Scottish Open

Tournament Records:

  • 72-Hole Record (Event):
    • 262 – Bernd Wiesberger (2019), Robert MacIntyre (2024)
  • 18-Hole Record (Event):
    • 61 – Bernd Wiesberger (Round 2, 2019), Byeong Hun An (Round 1, 2023), Richard Mansell (final round, 2024)

Course Guide/ Scorecard:

Originally designed by Tom Doak in 2008, The Renaissance Club features a Par 70 layout with five Par 3s, ten Par 4s, and three Par 5s.

In terms of length, The Renaissance Club sits right around the Tour average, measuring 7,282 yards. It ranks 18th out of 44 PGA TOUR courses in total yardage. Fairways are relatively narrow, ranking 16th in average width at just 32.0 yards. Greens, on the other hand, are quite large—averaging about 7,000 square feet—placing them among the biggest on Tour. The course includes 83 bunkers, the 12th most of any venue in the current PGA rotation.

When the Genesis Scottish Open became a co-sanctioned event in 2022, the course played to a Par 71 at 7,293 yards. In 2023, adjustments were made: the Par dropped to 70, and the total yardage was reduced to 7,237. The most notable change came at the 7th hole, which was converted from a short Par 5 into a long Par 4.

This year, the course has seen a slight increase in length from 2024, now measuring 7,282 yards. Two holes were extended: No. 5 increased from 338 to 347 yards, and No. 11 was lengthened from 475 to 511 yards.

The five Par 3s range from 147 to 218 yards. In 2024, only two of them played over par—No. 9 with a scoring average of +0.094 and No. 17 at +0.015.

The ten Par 4s largely fall within the 450 to 500-yard range. No. 5 is the shortest at 347 yards, while No. 7 is the longest at 505 yards and ranked as the toughest Par 4 on the course last year in terms of scoring average.

The three Par 5s—No. 3, No. 10, and No. 16—all played under par in 2024. The easiest hole on the course was No. 16, which had a scoring average of 4.527.

Featured/ Signature Hole(s): 13

Key Statistics:

The Genesis Scottish Open takes place at The Renaissance Club. Here are the key statistics to keep an eye on for this week’s event.

StatisticsPGA Tour AverageThe Renaissance Club
Driving Distance (Yards)284.01293.70
Driving Accuracy62%52%
GIR Percentage66%66%
Avg GIR Prox. to Hole (Feet)29.1732.50
Scrambling Percentage57%55%
Avg 3 Putts / Round0.550.47

Per DataGolf, this is the favored skillset at The Renaissance Club.

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

  • Success at The Renaissance Club starts with consistent performance off the tee. The course features narrow fairways and penal bunkering, putting a premium on both distance and accuracy. Players who excel in this category tend to create more scoring opportunities throughout the round.
    • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Chris Gotterup
      • Niklas Norgaard Moller
      • Scottie Scheffler
      • Jesper Svensson
      • Jordan L Smith
      • Daniel Berger
      • Aldrich Potgieter
      • Chun-an Yu
      • Marco Penge
      • Adam Scott

Strokes Gained: Approach

  • Approach play remains one of the most predictive metrics for success week to week, and The Renaissance Club is no exception.
    • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Scottie Scheffler
      • Viktor Hovland
      • Sepp Straka
      • Henrik Norlander
      • Daniel Berger
      • Emiliano Grillo
      • Collin Morikawa
      • Ryan Gerard
      • Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
      • Bud Cauley

Strokes Gained: Around the Green

  • While ball striking is vital, scrambling will also be a key ingredient. The greens are large but undulating, and coastal winds can lead to missed greens in regulation. Players with sharp short games who can save par from difficult lies will have a scoring advantage.
    • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Matteo Manassero
      • Sungjae Im
      • Matt Wallace
      • Andrew Putnam
      • Samuel Stevens
      • Ryo Hisatsune
      • Scottie Scheffler
      • Alejandro Tosti
      • Tommy Fleetwood
      • Chan Kim

Strokes Gained: Putting

  • Putting on these slower fescue greens can level the playing field, allowing strong putters to separate themselves while penalizing those struggling with the flatstick.
    • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Harry Hall
      • Sam Burns
      • Danny Willett
      • Sam Ryder
      • Andrew Putnam
      • Thorbjorn Olesen
      • Brandt Snedeker
      • Justin Thomas
      • Adrien Saddier
      • J.J. Spaun

Driving Distance Gained

  • The Renaissance Club rewards length, especially on the Par 5s. Longer hitters can gain an edge by shortening holes and setting up more birdie opportunities.
    • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Aldrich Potgieter
      • Rory McIlroy
      • Niklas Norgaard Moller
      • Jesper Svensson
      • Marco Penge
      • Chris Gotterup
      • Xander Schauffele
      • Rasmus Hojgaard
      • Jhonattan Vegas
      • Nicolai Hojgaard

Par 3 Scoring: 200-225 Yards

  • Three of the five Par 3s fall within this range. These holes have consistently played over par in recent years, requiring precise long iron or hybrid shots into firm, elevated greens.
    • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Viktor Hovland
      • Erik Van Rooyen
      • Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
      • Sami Valimaki
      • Si Woo Kim
      • Nick Taylor
      • Guido Migliozzi
      • Wyndham Clark
      • Mackenzie Hughes
      • Aldrich Potgieter

Par 4 Scoring: 450-500 Yards

  • The bulk of Par 4s at The Renaissance Club land in this range. These are often the most difficult holes on the course, so scoring well here is a strong indicator of overall success.
    • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Sam Burns
      • Ludvig Aberg
      • Scottie Scheffler
      • Marcel Siem
      • Matthew Fitzpatrick
      • Max Greyserman
      • Christiaan Bezuidenhout
      • Matthew Jordan
      • Rory McIlroy
      • Corey Conners

Par 5 Scoring: 550-600 Yards

  • All three Par 5s fall into this range, and all played under par in 2024. Players will need to take advantage of these scoring holes to keep pace with the leaderboard.
    • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Xander Schauffele
      • Viktor Hovland
      • Rory McIlroy
      • Samuel Stevens
      • Scottie Scheffler
      • Vincent Whaley
      • Sam Burns
      • Corey Conners
      • Joe Highsmith
      • Adrien Saddier

Birdies or Better Gained

  • With winning scores typically falling in the low double digits under par, players who capitalize on birdie chances and avoid big numbers will have the best chance to contend.
    • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Scottie Scheffler
      • Matthias Schmid
      • Aldrich Potgieter
      • Rory McIlroy
      • Keith Mitchell
      • Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
      • Viktor Hovland
      • J.J. Spaun
      • Harry Hall
      • Sami Valimaki

Proximity Gained: 175-200, 200+ Yards

  • According to DataGolf’s approach distribution from last year, most second shots came from beyond 175 yards—well above the Tour average. Long-iron proximity will be a key differentiator.
    • Leaders in Proximity Gained: 175-200 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Viktor Hovland
      • Matthias Schmid
      • Si Woo Kim
      • Henrik Norlander
      • Patrick Rodgers
      • Sam Ryder
      • Adrien Saddier
      • Karl Vilips
      • Scottie Scheffler
      • Daniel Hillier
    • Leaders in Proximity Gained: 200+ Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
      • Scottie Scheffler
      • Ryan Gerard
      • Antoine Rozner
      • Matthew Fitzpatrick
      • Adam Schenk
      • Viktor Hovland
      • Romain Langasque
      • Chun-an Yu
      • Matthias Schmid
      • Junghwan Lee

Comparable Courses and Event History

  • DataGolf’s Course History Tool shows that while course experience is helpful, it hasn’t been a massive edge historically. Still, familiarity with the layout, coastal conditions, and links-style adjustments can’t be ignored.
    • Leaders in this category in the last (SG at The Renaissance Club – Last 3 Editions):
      • Robert Macintyre
      • Joohyung Kim
      • Rory McIlroy
      • Romain Langasque
      • Wyndham Clark
      • Tommy Fleetwood
      • Adam Scott
      • Corey Conners
      • Thorbjorn Olesen
      • Victor Perez

The Field:

The 2025 Genesis Scottish Open will feature a field of 156 players, with twenty of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking set to compete.

Basis of qualification for each entrant this week:

  • Top 30 on prior season’s FedExCup
  • Current FedExCup season leaders
  • Sponsor exemption (members not otherwise exempt)
  • DP World Tour eligibility (75 players)
  • Sponsor exemption (unrestricted)
  • KPGA (three spots)

Previous Winners in the Field (Event):

  • Robert Macintyre (’24), Rory McIlroy (’23), Xander Schauffele (’22), Aaron Rai (’20), Bernd Wiesberger (’19), Brandon Stone (’18), Alex Noren (’16), Justin Rose (’14), Luke Donald (’11)

Debutants in the Field:

  • Aldrich Potgieter, Alejandro Tosti, Angel Hidalgo Portillo, Brian Campbell, Bud Cauley, Danny Walker, David Ford, David Ravetto, Dylan Naidoo, Elvis Smylie, Eugenio Chacarra, Frederic LaCroix, Henrik Norlander, Hongtaek Kim, Isaiah Salinda, Jacob Bridgeman, Jake Knapp, Joe Dean, Joe Highsmith, Karl Vilips, Kevin Roy, Luke Clanton, Marco Penge, Martin Couvra, Matt McCarty, Max McGreevy, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Ryan Gerard, Ryggs Johnston, Sam Bairstow, Taylor Pendrith, Wooyoung Cho.

Exemptions:

  • Luke Clanton – Sponsor’s Exemption (Restricted)
  • David Ford – Sponsor’s Exemption (Restricted)
  • Alex Noren – Sponsor’s Exemption
  • Richie Ramsay – Sponsor’s Exemption (Unrestricted)
  • Brandt Snedeker – Sponsor’s Exemption (Unrestricted)

Notable Withdraws/ Changes:

  • N/A

The Odds:

Here are the current favorites for this week’s event:

GolferOddsLast 5 Finishes on the PGA TOUR
(Recent -> Past)
Last 5 Finishes at the Genesis Scottish Open
(Recent -> Past)
Scottie Scheffler+360T6-T7-WON-T4-WONT3-MC
Rory McIlroy+800T6-T19-MC-T47-T7T4-WON
Xander Schauffele+1800T61-T12-T25-T28-T11WON-T42-T15
Tommy Fleetwood+2200T2-MC-T16-T4-T41T4-T6-T34
Collin Morikawa+2500T8-T42-T23-T20-T50T4-MC-T4

Tournament Props:

Playoff:

  • Will There Be a Playoff at the Genesis Scottish Open? (Yes +360 / No -500)

Since moving to The Renaissance Club in 2019, this event has gone to a playoff three times—in 2019, 2020, and 2021. However, since the tournament became an officially sanctioned PGA TOUR event in 2022, a playoff has not been needed to determine the winner.

Hole-in-One:

  • Will There Be A Hole-in-One at the Genesis Scottish Open? (Yes -210 / No +150)

There were no aces recorded in 2024.
In 2023, Nicolas Colsaerts made a hole-in-one on No. 14.
In 2022, Jordan Smith recorded one on No. 17.

Any player who hits a hole-in-one earns a car for both him and his caddie.

Recent Horses for Courses (The Renaissance Club):

Genesis Scottish OpenGenesis Scottish OpenGenesis Scottish Open
The Renaissance ClubThe Renaissance ClubThe Renaissance Club
GolferSG: Total (Event)202420232022
Robert Macintyre+25.94WON2MC
Joohyung (Tom) Kim+25.54T15T63
Rory McIlroy+22.94T4WON
Romain Langasque+13.943T25
Wyndham Clark+11.94T10T25T16
Tommy Fleetwood+11.94T34T6T4

Recent Donkeys for Courses (The Renaissance Club):

Genesis Scottish OpenGenesis Scottish OpenGenesis Scottish Open
The Renaissance ClubThe Renaissance ClubThe Renaissance Club
GolferSG: Total (Event)202420232022
Danny Willett-14.66MCMCMC
Luke Donald-5.03MCMCMC
Ockert Strydom-7.51MCMC
Chun-an (Kevin) Yu-7.51MCMC
Pablo Larrazabal-4.51MCMC
Simon Forsström-2.51MCMC
Sepp Straka-0.37MCMC

Previous Winners Scores, Prices, and Strokes Gained (Rank at Tournament):

  • 2024: Robert Macintyre (-18)
    • Price: 55-1
SG: Off the TeeSG: Tee to GreenSG: ApproachSG: Around the GreenSG: Putting
8th4th5th45th16th

  • 2023: Rory McIlroy (-15)
    • Price: 8-1
SG: Off the TeeSG: Tee to GreenSG: ApproachSG: Around the GreenSG: Putting
3rd1st4th38th29th
  • 2022: Xander Schauffele (-7)
    • Price: 20-1
SG: Off the TeeSG: Tee to GreenSG: ApproachSG: Around the GreenSG: Putting
16th1st7th15th27th

Previous Winners Incoming Form (Last 5 Starts):

  • 2024: Robert Macintyre
    • MC – Rocket Mortgage Classic (PGA)
    • T16 – Travelers Championship (PGA)
    • MC – U.S. Open (MAJ)
    • T8 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
    • WON – RBC Canadian Open (PGA)
  • 2023: Rory McIlroy
    • T7 – Travelers Championship (PGA)
    • 2 – U.S. Open (MAJ)
    • T9 – RBC Canadian Open (PGA)
    • T7 – the Memorial Tournament (PGA)
    • T7 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • 2022: Xander Schauffele
    • WON – Travelers Championship (PGA)
    • T14 – U.S. Open (MAJ)
    • T18 – the Memorial Tournament (PGA)
    • T13 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
    • T5 – AT&T Byron Nelson (PGA)

Previous Winners’ Finishes at Course:

2024: Robert Macintyre

Genesis Scottish OpenGenesis Scottish OpenAbrdn Scottish OpenAberdeen Standard Investments
Scottish Open
Aberdeen Standard Investments
Scottish Open
The Renaissance ClubThe Renaissance ClubThe Renaissance ClubThe Renaissance ClubThe Renaissance Club
20232022202120202019
2MCT18T14MC

2023: Rory McIlroy

abrdn Scottish OpenAberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open
The Renaissance ClubThe Renaissance Club
20212019
MCT34

2022: Xander Schauffele

abrdn Scottish Open
The Renaissance Club
2021
T10

Tournament Winner:

Sam Burns (+4000) – DraftKings

Matt Fitzpatrick (+4500) – DraftKings

Corey Conners (+4500) – FanDuel

Adam Scott (+5500) – DraftKings

Ryan Fox (+6500) – DraftKings

Maverick McNealy (+8000) – FanDuel

Max Greyserman (+9000) – FanDuel

Thomas Detry (+9000) – FanDuel

Nicolai Hojgaard (+10000) – FanDuel

Top 20 (Including Ties):

Robert MacIntyre (+130) – DraftKings

Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting. Any feedback whether positive or negative is always encouraged.

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